Mike Smith

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Blog Post Archive

Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR?: Friday, Nov. 20, 2009; A friend asked me this week if I thought a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson would be good or bad for NASCAR. “It will be good and bad for NASCAR,” I said.
A few observations from the infield at Phoenix: Monday, Nov. 16, 2009; Anyone who thinks NASCAR has strayed too far from its roots by becoming overly fancy, upscale and polished should visit Phoenix International Raceway.
How successful does a crew chief have to be?: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009; After less than two seasons on top of Kyle Busch’s “war wagon,” Steve Addington will no longer be the crew chief for the No. 18 car.
Martinsville provides what Bristol used to offer: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009; Martinsville is now Bristolville. I used to look forward to the races at Bristol more than any other races during the season. Not anymore. Now I wait, like an anxious kid who waits for Santa, to see the racing at Martinsville.
Would the No. 48 make Jr. great?: Friday, Oct. 23, 2009; One of the things I’ve always admired about Dale Earnhardt Jr. is his refreshing honesty.
Forget the bumping at Martinsville, Talladega could be more of a worry for Johnson.: Monday, Oct. 19, 2009; The fat lady hasn’t sung yet regarding who will win the Sprint Cup Championship. But she is offstage warming up.
No Camaro in the Nationwide Series? What is Chevy thinking?: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009; In a step that I hope will eventually lead to the "pony cars" coming to Sprint Cup racing, this week Ford and Roush Fenway Racing unveiled the Mustang that will be used next year in the Nationwide
Series.
Auto Club Speedway needs to be reconfigured: Monday, Oct. 12, 2009; In September the Los Angeles Times reported that no action is being taken on a multimillion-dollar proposal to reconfigure Auto Club Speedway.
NASCAR's move to change start times is the right decision: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009; Inevitably at some point during the week my wife asks me, “What time is the race on this weekend?”
Does Gordon or Stewart have the momentum heading to California?: Monday, Oct. 5, 2009; It’s foolish to bet against Tony Stewart. During the past two weeks, it was beginning to look like the wheels were coming off the No. 14 team’s championship bid.
A championship by a Dodge team would be a triumph over immense challenges: Friday, Sept. 25, 2009; Mark Martin could finally win a championship at 50 years old. Tony Stewart could be the first owner-driver to win a championship since Alan Kulwicki.
Martin wins and Montoya whines: Monday, Sept. 21, 2009; Prior to the start of the Chase, Mark Martin stated that Juan Pablo Montoya was a driver he thought had a good chance of winning the Cup title.
Will Stewart make this the year of the owner-driver?: Friday, Sept. 18, 2009; From a records standpoint, a fourth consecutive Cup title by Jimmie Johnson would be a historic accomplishment that could stand unbroken for decades.
Robby Gordon skips Richmond to race in the desert and Kyle Busch misses the Chase: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009; Kyle Busch didn’t make it into the Chase, but don’t expect him to set the cruise control for the remaining ten races.
Winner in the Dale Earnhardt Jr. cartoon caption contest: Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
Don't tell me Danica Patrick doesn't have talent: Friday, Sept. 11, 2009; A quick search of racing-related Internet sites will reveal several stories on the possible move by Danica Patrick to NASCAR.
Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 was a race I could watch again: Monday, Sept. 7, 2009; There were more headlines to come out of the Pep Boys Auto 500 than you would find on the front page of the New York Times.
A few questions for Tim Brewer about using fuel injection in NASCAR: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009; Do you remember the last car you owned that had a carburetor? I do. It was a 1983 Ford Fairmont.
Racing on rain tires just doesn't do it for me: Monday, Aug. 31, 2009; I was beginning to think that the coverage of figure skating in the Winter Olympics had started early.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. cartoon caption contest: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009; Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to our cartoon caption contest. Put on your thinking cap and see if you can come up with the winning caption.
Is the old Bristol gone forever?: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009; It’s as plain as the nose on your face. The racing at Bristol has changed. But has it changed for the better?
Is requesting bonus points through the kindness of a teammate unfair?: Monday, Aug. 24, 2009; NASCAR goes to great lengths in its attempt to create a level playing field on the track.
Busch and Vickers rumble, Johnson and Co. stumble and Helton offers a rebuttal: Monday, Aug. 17, 2009; Saturday’s Nationwide Series race ended with an onslaught of verbal daggers between Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers after the two tangled on the last lap.
Who will perform the best at the next four tracks?: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009
Tony Stewart's road-course house: Monday, Aug. 10, 2009; “This is my house,” said Tony Stewart about Watkins Glen International Speedway on Monday after crushing the rest of the field to get his fifth win at this track.
NASCAR needs Bill Clinton...and a few thoughts on Stewart and Busch: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009; Disputed drug test results, lawyers, lawsuits, conspiracy theories and even accusations of murder.
The two faces of Pocono: Monday, Aug. 3, 2009; The rain-delayed Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 was two races in one.
Will the Mustang start a new trend in stock-car racing?: Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Goodyear wins at the Brickyard...and a few other observations: Monday, July 27, 2009; Johnson won the Brickyard 400, but it was Goodyear that won back the confidence of the drivers.
Winner in the cartoon caption contest: Saturday, July 25, 2009; I want to thank all of the readers who participated in this installment of the cartoon caption contest.
Please, Danica Patrick, move to NASCAR: Friday, July 24, 2009; Will Danica Patrick become a Sprint Cup Driver? I hope so.
Cartoon caption contest on NASCAR's drug testing: Thursday, July 23, 2009; The cartoon caption contest is back!
Fans won't be too happy if BMWs hit the high banks: Monday, July 20, 2009; NASCAR CEO Brian France recently revealed that the sport has been in discussions for some time with other foreign manufacturers about them possibly joining Toyota in stock car racing.
Stop the Mayfield madness: Thursday, July 16, 2009; When Mayfield issued his initial denials regarding a positive drug test, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Mayfield tests positive for meth again (Updated): Wednesday, July 15, 2009; NASCAR announced this afternoon that Jeremy Mayfield’s drug test from July 6th was positive for methamphetamine.
Keselowski needs a full-time gig and the Busch brothers need some tough love: Monday, July 13, 2009; I’m looking forward to seeing Brad Keselowski behind the wheel of a full-time ride in Sprint Cup.
Wrecktona and an overly contrite Tony Stewart: Monday, July 6, 2009; I’ve said it before and it’s probably worth repeating after the last lap wreckfest we saw at Daytona on Saturday night: We can all think of things about the COT that make the hair on the back of our necks stand up, but this car has definitely raised the level of safety for all of the Cup drivers.
Federal Judge lifts suspension on Jeremy Mayfield: Wednesday, July 1, 2009; According to published reports, U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen lifted NASCAR’s suspension of Jeremy Mayfield this afternoon.
Anticipating the restarts at Daytona: Tuesday, June 30, 2009; I’m looking forward to viewing the double-file restarts at Daytona this weekend.
I won't doubt Tony Stewart this time: Wednesday, June 24, 2009; The financial earthquake this country has suffered continues to produce aftershocks in the sport of stock car racing.
Double-file restarts not a concern at Infineon: Monday, June 22, 2009; One of the big topics heading into Sunday’s race was the question of how the double-file restarts would play out at the road course.
Bring Buick back to Cup racing: Thursday, June 18, 2009; In 1983 NASCAR driver Bobby Allison won the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. He won six races that year, five of them while driving a Buick. Is it time for Buick to make a return to stock car racing?
Michigan fuel-mileage mayhem: Monday, June 15, 2009; I usually don’t enjoy fuel-mileage races, especially when a driver limps to the finish line with the transmission in neutral.
Kyle Busch says Dale Jr.'s fans are "crazy.": Friday, June 12, 2009; While speaking to the media today at Michigan International Speedway, Kyle Busch had a few choice words for Dale Jr.'s fans.
Gordon's back pain could become a pain for NASCAR: Thursday, June 11, 2009; In addition to a continuing slump by Dale Earnhardt Jr., what could also contribute to the slide in TV ratings for NASCAR? The early retirement of Jeff Gordon.
Will Stewart-Haas Racing start a trend in NASCAR?: Monday, June 8, 2009; Where there’s Smoke there’s success. There has been no learning curve for Stewart-Haas Racing as Tony Stewart has visited victory lane faster than anyone expected.
It's about time the double-file restarts came to Sprint Cup racing: Thursday, June 4, 2009; Nascar has seen the light. The governing body announced today that beginning with this weekend's race at Pocono, the race format will be changed to include double-file restarts.
A few thoughts on Johnson, Earnhardt, Busch, double-file restarts and the Ford Motor Company: Tuesday, June 2, 2009; Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson & Co. have proven, once again, why the No. 48 team has won three championships in a row and could be poised to win an unprecedented fourth.
Is this a new beginning for Dale Jr.?: Friday, May 29, 2009; It had become too painful to watch. Seeing the most popular driver with one of the most storied names in the sport continue a slide into a black hole of un-competitiveness was too much for Rick Hendrick to bear.
Dale Jr. gets a new crew chief: Thursday, May 28, 2009; Dale Jr. gets a new crew chief.